“Let’s see if you can wrestle with women”- Interior minister to the opposition

20 December, 2018

Female Police officers were mobilized in front of the Gurjaani District Court where the case of Davit Kirkitadze, the member of the United Opposition was considered.
Since the policewomen are not usually sent to demonstrations and rallies in Georgia, their appearance caused public controversy.

Regarding the mobilization of the female officers, the minister of the internal affairs addressed the opposition with the following words: “Let’s see if you can wrestle with women”. The opposition activists brought flowers to the female police

Baia Pataraia, a feminist activist from Georgia, said that it is not unusual to see female police officers but to position them in the frontline by saying “Let’s see if you wrestle with women?” is a sexist action and problematic. She thinks the scene looked like a “female performance” staged by the minister, which doesn’t appeal to her.

The deputy minister of the internal affairs stated that there are a lot of female police officers working in the Kakheti region where the court is located. She is going to investigate if it was an intentional rather than a coincidental that a relatively big number of the policewomen were mobilized in the frontline.The opposition activists tried to hand flowers to the female police officers as a sign of their peaceful intention. One of the leaders of the opposition Zaal Udumashvili asked if the ministry is going to send children with police uniforms for the next case.

Davit Kirkitadze’s Case

Pre-trial detention was ordered for Davit Kirkitadze. The defense had been demanding his release on bail. Lawyer Giorgi Kondakhishvili submitted a document signed by 27 MPs, according to which, opposition MPs were ready to stand surety for Davit Kirkitadze.Davit Kirkitadze, the member of the United Opposition in the Gurjaani District court

Kirkitadze was detained during the Velistsikhe incident on December 16. In particular, he was arrested for assaulting and abusing a police officer and damaging property. Davit Kirkitadze denied charges and was on a hunger strike.

On the 16th of December, president-elect Salome Zourabichvili was inaugurated as the fifth president of Georgia in Telavi, Kakheti region. Supporters and leaders of the United Opposition (including the United National Movement) left Tbilisi for Telavi to once again protest against the results of the November 28 presidential elections. The opposition rally was scheduled to be held in Telavi at 14:00 on the area allocated for them in the city in advance. According to Grigol Vashadze, former presidential candidate of the United Opposition, their demonstration was going to be peaceful.

Opposition activists clashed with the police after they blocked access to the city of Telavi. The ministry of internal affairs claimed that they had offered a longer route to protesters as well as shuttles. They also said that the protesters could have walked to Telavi. The United Opposition rallying outside the Gurjaani District Court

The leaders of the protest insisted the offered route was blocked just like the others and accused the government of violating their constitutional right to freedom of movement. The opposition also claimed the authorities did not inform them about the alternative routes beforehand.Related stories: